Historic Decision: The Netherlands Bans the Import and Trade of Israeli Settlement Products

The Dutch government announced on Friday an official ban on the import and sale of goods produced in Israeli settlements located in the Palestinian territories and the occupied Golan Heights, based on UN resolutions and international law which deem these settlements illegal. Amsterdam called on its European Union counterparts to take similar steps to halt indirect support for illegal activities. Dutch government authorities emphasized that settlement expansion undermines the prospects for a two-state solution, noting that this ban aims to prevent the Dutch economy from being involved in any violations of international law resulting from ongoing annexation policies.